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Continued education, additional training, or “professional development”, is so important in pretty much any line of work today. Whether mandatory or optional, it helps us to keep up our skills, acquire new ones and adapt our skills to new technology, market conditions, or industry advancements.

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I had an opportunity to attend an event organized by the South Carolina BAR Association, called “Law School for Interpreters” last Saturday in Columbia, and it was quite enriching. Finally, the State judicial system explained… The naturalization process certainly helped me understand how the government works at the Federal level, but less so at the local State level. And every State is different, so it gets confusing, especially when you interpret…

The French language is so rich with expressions, and it associates verbs specifically with certain nouns to form an expression. In English, one verb can be changed into so many different meanings with a preposition (to take in/ out/ after/ along/ apart/ away…). In French, those different meanings are achieved with a whole expression (prendre part à…) or a distinct verb (emporter, enmener, démonter, …).

Je me réjouis de partir en vacances en France. // I look forward to going on vacation in France.Il se réjouit du week-end. // He is looking forward to the week-end.Nous nous réjouissons de passer le week-end en famille. // We look forward to spending the week-end together as a family.

NOTES:– See link above for the full conjugation as a reflexive verb.
– Please also ensure you do not confuse with the verb « jouir » (to climax). Always use « réjouir » to mean « looking forward to », « delighting », « rejoicing ».

Je bosse du matin au soir. // I work from morning to night.Je bosse toute la journée. // I work all day.

– Qu’est-ce que tu bosses en ce moment? // What are you working on these days?
– Je bosse à Saint-Miquelon en ce moment mais j’ai l’intention de trouver autre chose en province. // I am currently working in Saint-Miquelon but I am planning to find something else in the provinces/ country side

Après ce long voyage, il m’a fallu deux jours pourrécupérer. // After this long trip, it took me 2 days to recuperate.Rien de meilleur qu’un bon dimanche à la maison pour récupérer d’une longue semaine. // Nothing like a good Sunday at home to recuperate from a long week.Il faut prévoir une bonne journée pourrécupérer complètement d’une séance de musculation. // It is best to plan a good day to fully recuperate from a weight-lifting session.

Note:

Alternative meaning of the transitive verb « récupérer + qch » include to get back, to retrieve, to reclaim, to save, to salvage + stg.

I must admit that Labor Day week-end caused my normal schedule to be a little off, and instead of being prepared, I am playing catch-up… Nevertheless, it makes this week’s « mots du bonjour » a little more spontaneous! After reading Todd Pack’s « freshly pressed » blog post regarding Sarah Palin’s mishap with the English language (« refudiate« ) and the inability to properly use more advanced words, I thought the following would be appropriate for our Thursday category, le mot intello:

Il a réfuté l’accusation de son patron sur son manque de fiabilité. // He refuted the accusation by his boss on his lack of reliability.Sarah a réfuté en bloc toutes les accusations portées contre elle. // Sarah refuted entirely all accusations made against her.Le rôle de l’avocat est de réfuter les accusations portées contre son client. // The attorney’s role is to refute the accusations made against his client.

Je t’emmène au vent (expression from the song by Louise Attaque) // I’ll take you where the wind blowsVeux-tu que je t’emmène en voiture? // Do you want a lift? (GB) or a ride? (US)Peux-tu m’emmener à l’aéroport demain matin? // Can you take me to the airport tomorrow morning?La jeune fille au pair doit emmener les enfants à l’école tous les matins. // The au pair needs to take the children to school every morning.On peut emporter combien de bagages sur ce vol? // How many luggage pieces can we take on this flight?Est-ce que je peux commander une pizza à emporter? // Can I order one pizza to-go?